Terminal device



M. MORRISON June}, 1929."

TERMiNAL DEVICE Filed Sept. 15, 1923 INVENTOR Monfiord Mormson.

ATTORNEY Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED stares MONTFORD MORRISON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TERMINAL DEVICE.

Application filed September 13, 1923.

My invention relates to terminal devices or contact members for switch-boards, rheostats and other control apparatus, and it has, for one of its objects, to provide a structure of this character that is greatly simplified over the corresponding devices of the piror art.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a terminal device orthe like having a contact-making and a conductor-receiving portion, together with integral means for maintainin the one-piece terminal device in its mounte position upon an insulating support, such as a switch board or face-plate.

More specificallystated, it is an object of my invention to provide a device of the aboveindicated character having a contact-making head portion, one face of which is roughened to permit engagement with one side of an insulating support, a recessed conductor-receiving portion being provided as is also an expanded portion for securing the device in its operative position by gripping the other side of the insulating support.

Other objects of my invention will become evident from the following detailed description taken in con unction with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figs. 1 and 2 are corresponding views of a terminal device embodying the principal features of my invention, and

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of a modification of the invention, illustrating the adaptability thereof to various designs of terminal devices.

In the prior art, contact studs or other terminal devices for switch-boards, rheostats and the like, have been necessarily associated with a separate conductor-receiving lug and sets of three or more nuts and washers, in order to properly secure the device upon an insulating support and also provide the desired good electrical connection. By the use of my one-piece or integral terminal device, the costs of material, machine operations and labor of assembly are greatly reduced, and a more compact and rugged device, having better electrical conducting characteristics, is assured.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the device here shown comprises a head portion or contact button 1 and an integrally-related barrel or cylinder 2 having the familiar conductor-receiving recess 3. The head portion 1 is suitably knurled or otherwise roughened to provide a series of sharp teeth Serial No. 662,457.

or burrs around the inner face or shoulder of the head portion, as illustrated at 4.

In order to facilitate the connecting of a conductor to the terminal device, provision is made for placing the conductor-receiving recess a suflicient distance from the support 6, to prevent injury thereof from the connecting operation. As shown, the body portion 2 extends entirely through the panel or support 6, and is provided with an extension 2, int-he end of which is the conductor receiving recess 3. I

A conductor may be connected to the extension 2 in any suitable manner, such,"for example, as a soldering or crimping operation. Since the conductor-receiving recess is removed from the vicinity of the panel, the heat developed from a soldering operation will not, in any Way, injure it.

In order to maintain the terminal .device in its proper position on the support 6*, an annular-lip portion 5 is provided on the end of the body portion 2 where it joinsthe extension 2*.

The lip portion 5 may be expanded, in any suitable manner, to provide a retaining shoulder or flange, which'engages the panel, directly or indirectly, through the agency of a protecting washer which may be interposed between the panel and the flange.

In this embodiment of the invention, a protecting washer 7 is interposed between the panel and the flange portion formed by the expansion of the lip portion 5.

It will be readily understood that the expansion of the lip portion 5 serves to force the roughened surface of the shoulder 4: into the face of the panel 6, which effectively prevents the terminal device from rotating in the panel opening and otherwise provides a solid mounting of the device. 7

The modification of my device that is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 utilizes the head portion 1 and the intermediate barrel portion 10, as just described, and, in addition, a recessed conductor-receiving portion 8 of smaller diameter is separated from the barrel portion 2 by a relatively thin or flattened portion 9 for a purpose to be set forth. At the. inner end of the cylindrical member 2, the an nular lip 5 is provided, as previously de scribed, and is spun over or expanded to grip the washer 7 and thereby secure the terminal device solidly in position, the roughened surface of the head portion 1 being utilized for the same purpose that has previously been set forth.

If it is desired to insert a conductor, at any predetermined angle with respect'to the main barrel portion 2, this may readily be accomplished by bending the relatively thin portion 9, as illustrated in Fig. 4, whereby a right-angle connection may be made without requiring any change in the actual construction of the terminal device from that illustrated in Fig. 3 other than the simple bending of the apparatus at the thin part 9.

It will be seen that I have thus provided a terminal device or the like that is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction, that may be installed with a relatively small amount of expense for labor and that is not only solidly secured mechanically to the 'in sulating support, but provides a maxi mumof electrical conductivity by reason of the integral relation of the various parts.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific structural details or arrangement of parts support, all of said portions being integrally related.

2. An integral contact device having a contact-making portion at one end, a conductorreceiving portion at the other end separated from said contact-making portion by a relatively thin part to permit bending, and an in termediate expanded portion for securing the device to an insulating support. 7

3. An integral. contact device having a contact-making head portion provided with a roughened face, and a recessed portion adapted to receive a conductor and separated from said head portion by a relatively thin part, an intermediate portion of said device being expanded to co-operate with said roughened face in securing the device to an insulating beyond said support. v

4. An integral contact device having a con support, said thin part being bent at a point tact-making head portion provided with a roughened face, and a recessed portion adapted to receive a conductor and separated from said head portion by a relatively thin part, an intermediate portion of said device being expanded to co-operate with said roughened face in securing the device to an insulating support, said thin part being bent at a point beyond said support, all of said portions being integrally related. 3

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 7th day of September,

MONTFORD MORRISON. I 

